Prognosis

The natural course of laryngeal cancer depends on the treatment modality, but almost always the voice changes or is lost to some degree. The 5-year survival for laryngeal cancer is 62% and has remained unchanged for the last 30 years.[3]​ Black men have worse 5-year survival than white men: 55% versus 62%.[3]

Overall survival, disease-free survival, and larynx preservation is largely determined by initial tumour stage at the time of diagnosis and treatment. Survival by stage of laryngeal cancer is as follows:[72]

  • Stage 1: 5-year overall survival is 90%

  • Stage 2: 5-year overall survival is 70%

  • Stage 3: 5-year overall survival is 60%

  • Stage 4: 5-year overall survival is >30%.

Patients who survive 5 years without recurrence are considered cured. The risk of recurrence is higher in patients who continue to smoke and in those whose cancer is at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.[73]​[74][75]​

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